The discussion emphasizes that sex offenders, including rapists, child molesters, and incest perpetrators, are treatable; that treatment must fit the individual needs of offenders; and that clinicians need specific personal characteristics and training to be effective in working with these offenders. It also notes that more than 90 percent of child molesters were sexually abused as children and are ritualistically repeating their abuse on victims of the same age as they were. In addition, abusers of children and adolescents have behavioral traits that, if recognized, can prevent their access to potential victims. Furthermore, the potential that a young child or adolescent may develop into a sex offender can be recognized and treated, potentially reducing significantly the number of active adult sex offenders. Index and 9 references (Publisher summary modified)